Jason Flaig: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Jason Flaig of Northwest Distribution and Storage. In this interview, Jason explains his long road into the wine industry and the unique service his company provides. Jason talks about the beginning of his journey that is rather complicated. He started out as pre-med student before he got married and had a family. When he returned to school he decided to pursue a degree in education. When that didn’t work out, Jason pursued the law and became a paralegal. After he realized that wasn’t his path either, he started working in logistics where NWDS was one of his clients. After developing a relationship with the owner of NWDS, Jason transitioned into working in sales at the company.Jason discusses the purpose of his company within the wine industry. Although it’s not usually what people think of when they think of wine, NWDS has a vital role within the industry. NWSD offers service and storage. While the facility is where winemakers store their wine for safe keeping, whether to let it age or store before selling in a temperature controlled facility, Jason believes the true assets the company offers to its clients is their people. Jason uses his newest degree of counseling to facilitate exceptional service for their clients.Later in the interview, Jason talks about how he made his way to the top of the company. Beginning in sales in 2007, Jason took on many roles within the company that helped them succeed. After moving up as president in 2012, Jason and four others bought the company from the previous owner in 2018, and became one of three owners in 2022. Without prior knowledge of wine, Jason asked questions to learn and established a name for his company within the Oregon wine industry.This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Northwest Distribution and Storage on June 5, 2026.